Gasol unpacks his bags

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LOS ANGELES For nearly an hour after Thursday's NBA trade deadline passed, Pau Gasol remained on the court at the Lakers' practice facility, working on an array of moves with assistant coaches, who countered him with foam dummies and foam props, all to ready him for a return to the court today.

As a Laker.

The 33-year-old center survived another trade deadline with the Lakers as, a day after trading guard Steve Blake to Golden State, the organization chose to hold on to its players, despite the playoffs being out of reach, rather than hold a fire sale to get under the luxury tax threshold.

Gasol, who was at the forefront of trade talks, expressed relief that the Lakers did not unload him and his expiring $19.3 million contract.

“Now I'm just going to focus on finishing out the year healthy, trying to help our team be the best it can be,” Gasol said. “And to compete every single game. That's my mindset and that's going to put me in a better position (as a free agent) in the offseason.”

Gasol has not played since Jan. 31 because of a strained right groin, but expects to play today when the Lakers play host to Boston.

General Manager Mitch Kupchak said the Lakers wanted to get under the tax threshold, but were not interested in a “salary dump.”

“If we could have gotten picks or players that we felt good about going forward, then we would have done that,” Kupchak said. “But we did have opportunities to go below the threshold and wouldn't do it.”

Gasol had long been linked to a potential deal with the Phoenix Suns, but Gasol reportedly had been unwilling to commit to the Suns beyond this season.

Wednesday's trade, which netted the Lakers young swingmen MarShon Brooks and Kent Bazemore – both of whom have expiring contracts at the end of this season – seemed to signal a change in strategy, one that would have allowed the Lakers to move other, smaller contracts – such as Chris Kaman and Jordan Hill – and get under the salary cap.

However, Kupchak said Thursday the Blake deal was triggered more by the emergence of Kendall Marshall at point guard, and the Lakers' desire to evaluate him and Jordan Farmar at the position.

Blake first signed with the Lakers in 2010, and averaged 5.8 points and 2.3 assists over four seasons. He was in the midst of a big year, averaging 9.5 points and a career-high 7.6 assists.

“He's going to a great spot, to a playoff team,” Coach Mike D'Antoni said. “You hate it for him, you feel for him. I hate it for us because I hate to lose him. He was the backbone we had this year and I hate to lose that.”

One of the players most discussed in trade speculation leading up to the deadline, Gasol could serve as the face of a relatively quiet deadline. No league-wide, blockbuster deals were executed.

“It is difficult to make a deal in this league,” Kupchak said. “The owners are very competitive; the general managers are very competitive. It's not one GM in an office talking to another GM, which is kind of how it was 20 to 25 years ago.”

Many assumed the Lakers would deal Gasol simply to gain something in return for the capable big man. However, Kupchak said the Lakers would be open to re-signing Gasol in the offseason. And the center said years of being shopped by the organization hadn't necessarily left a bad taste in his mouth.

“That type of situation is not pleasant for anyone, for any player,” Gasol said. “I understand it is part of the business and the position we have been in. … As much as (there have been) talks – and I'm sure there's been offers that the team has declined – I'm still here. So the team also values me.”

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